A/N: Finally, the end of the Winter Soldier arc. Whew.
When Allie woke up the next morning, she found Darcy and Jane in the room with her. She panicked for a moment, trying to find her parents, and then remembered Clint's quiet goodbye. She curled back under the blankets and nuzzled her cheek into the curve of Darcy's shoulder.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Darcy said, yawning.
"Mmh. Jane?"
"Still asleep." Darcy reached out a toe and nudged Jane in the thigh. "Yep, still asleep."
Allie let out a sleepy giggle. "Is it early?" she whispered.
"Well, it's seven thirty. Is that early or late for you?"
Allie shrugged and slid out of bed. "Early. But I'm hungwy."
"Okay. I think Thor's downstairs, and Bruce. I heard them talking."
"Yeah." Allie changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and crept downstairs.
Thor, Bruce, Coulson, and Laura were sitting at the table having coffee and muffins. "Hey, good morning, Allie," Laura said, spotting the little girl.
Allie smiled shyly and yawned. "G'morning." She shuffled over to Thor and leaned against his leg. "Hair?" she asked, holding up a pink hair tie.
He smiled and took the tie. "As you wish." He did a quick braid and secured the end, and pulled her up to sit on his knee. "Would you like some muffin?"
"Yeah."
"Nice braid," Laura said, raising an eyebrow.
Coulson grinned. "We've all gotten pretty good at hairstyles for little girls, huh, Allie?"
"Yeah," Allie said, swallowing a bite of muffin. "Steeb and mommy and Darcy are de best, but everyone's good at it, and Dummy can make my hair curly."
"How does he do that?" Bruce asked, frowning.
"He sticks his finger in de coil and heats it up, and den wraps my hair like mommy's curler stick. Comes out all nice and bouncy," Allie replied placidly. "Can I have juice, please?"
Bruce's eyes were wide. "The thermo-nuclear coil?"
"I'n'know. Tony let him."
Bruce sighed. "Of course he would."
Coulson patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Would you like to borrow my taser?"
"No thanks."
Allie sat with Thor and had breakfast, and when Cooper and Lila woke up they all went off to play.
"Has Clint told you about Allie's, gift?" Coulson asked, as they watched the kids run around outside.
Laura smiled. "Yes he did. He told me about Allie when he decided that he wanted to adopt her. And he's so good with Cooper and Lila."
"He's an amazing father," Bruce said.
Laura's smile gentled and she got up to get more coffee. "Anyone want more?"
A~A~A~A
Their mission to Fort Meade only took a day and a half, and then they were back. "Mom mom mom dad dad dad!" Allie screeched, rushing to hug Hawkeye and Black Widow.
They scooped her up. "Allie Allie Allie," Clint repeated, blowing a raspberry on her neck.
She shrieked happily, and wriggled out of his arms, running to her mother. The guns strapped to her thigh didn't even register. "Mommy."
Natasha kneeled down and held her close. "Hi. Did you miss me?"
"Yes," Allie said firmly.
"Good."
Sam showed off his wings, and did some aerial tricks for everyone's entertainment.
Coulson suddenly came out from the house, waving his phone. "Got it! We've got the coordinates!"
"Huh, Fury actually came through," Tony said, surprised.
Steve slung his shield onto the couch. "All right, everybody, let's pack up."
Darcy half-raised a hand. "Where are we going?"
Tony grinned wryly. "Someplace my dad talked about once, but never made it onto the official books."
"Agent Carter was the one who ran the place for a while," Coulson added. "Only Fury knows the coordinates, as director of SHIELD, so we should be safe there, and we'll have access to technology."
They were ready to go by the evening, and Natasha went to the barn to get Allie. "Sweetheart, it's time to go," she called.
Allie startled, and tumbled backwards off the hay loft.
Lila screamed, Cooper shouted, and Natasha's heart jumped into her mouth.
Allie transformed into a bird four feet from the ground, and fluttered frantically into Natasha's outstretched hands. Natasha held her close as she transformed back into a girl and pressed her lips to Allie's hair. "Oh my baby, are you all right?" Natasha asked, trying to control the hammering in her heart.
"I'm fine mommy," Allie said shakily.
Cooper and Lila were still staring over the edge of the loft. "Whoa," Cooper said slowly. "That's awesome."
"Are you a superhero too?" Lila asked eagerly, as the two of them clambered down the ladder and hugged their little cousin.
"No, I'm just me," Allie said shyly.
Lila hugged her tightly. "You're awesome."
Natasha gently reminded them that they had to leave, and Lila begged for another demonstration of Allie's talents before she left.
Allie quickly turned into a cat, a dragon, a puppy, and a platypus before returning back to her regular form. "Ta-da," she said shyly.
"Awesome," Cooper breathed. "You have to come back and visit us really soon."
"We'll come back soon," Natasha promised, scooping Allie off the ground and leading the children back towards the house.
"Bye!"
Allie ran into the quinjet and sat next to Steve. She turned into a grey kitten with white paws, and curled up in Steve's lap, tugging idly at a loose string in his sleeve.
He smiled and kept her entertained during the flight, but before they all knew it, the shielded quinjet landed at the secret base known as The Playground.
The scientists all made their way to the labs, and the others made their way to the strategy rooms. Allie went with Jane and Darcy to the mess hall. The caretaker of the place was a kind, mysterious man, and he offered to put on a Disney movie for the little girl. "Mulan!" she said. "Please."
A~A~A~A
With the proper materials, Tony and Bruce had the chips ready to go within fourteen hours.
A half hour after that, everyone was suited up and ready to go. Steve and Bucky were going to tackle the primary helicarrier. Natasha and Clint were going to tackle the second one. Sam and Thor were going to take down the third one. Tony, Bruce, and Coulson were going to take over the actual satellites that Project Insight used, and broadcast the identities of all the HYDRA operatives.
Allie was left with Darcy and the scientists to be absolutely safe. She gave everyone a hug goodbye and admonished them all to be safe. "Stay safe," she told Bucky again, her hands on his cheeks. "Don't be bad spy no more."
"I won't," he promised. "Don't worry doll. My mission is to help Steve."
"Good," Allie said firmly, and kissed his nose.
Once everyone was gone, Allie crawled unceremoniously into Darcy's lap and cuddled into her side. "Everyone's gonna be okay, right Darcy?"
Darcy kissed Allie's head. "Everyone's gonna be okay," she promised, and silently prayed, 'please universe, don't make me a liar.'
Three hours later, all the television channels were broadcasting breaking news: Avengers unmask HYDRA plot to destroy the world. Politician after politician was unmasked as part of HYDRA's organization, and all of its members were cast into the light. Alexander Pierce was forcibly removed from the World Security Council, and had a mysterious "accident" on his way to federal custody.
Captain America inspired loyal SHIELD agents to rise against HYDRA operatives, and all over the world, there was battle for control of bases and resources. The three Project Insight Helicarriers would not even be rising from their berths beneath the Potomac.
The more information was dumped on the internet of HYDRA's dealings, the more people began to realize just how serious it was. Trials began immediately. SHIELD was taken apart and revamped by the UN. The Avengers were cleared of the traitor charges. Fury came out clean from the investigation and got straight back to work with the cleared SHIELD agents, rounding up HYDRA agents, and directing the Avengers to certain strongholds.
One day turned into two, and two days turned into a week, two weeks. Tony screened everyone in his tower and cleaned out all the HYDRA agents, and moved Pepper, Bruce, Allie, Jane, and Darcy back in with him. Allie was overjoyed to have her toys, her clothes, and her JARBIS back, and the first thing she did was take a nap with the bots.
A few days later, Tony could no longer keep a handle on the information being released about HYDRA, and the details about the Winter Soldier made their way onto the internets. He was arrested by UN forces only two hours later, much to Captain America's disapproval.
The trial for the crimes of the Winter Soldier was the largest to-do anyone had ever seen. Experts were called in, genetic testing was done, Captain America testified, Natasha Romanoff testified, HYDRA agents were made to confess their knowledge of the Winter Soldier.
Allie wasn't allowed to watch TV or access the internet, and every time she talked to her mom or dad over the phone, they only told her that everyone was fine and that they would be home soon.
Two months later, James Buchanan Barnes was acquitted of the crimes committed by the Winter Soldier, since there was clear and present proof that he had been brainwashed. His actions in taking HYDRA down helped his case, too. He was released into the custody of the Avengers, to continue saving the world.
A month after that, everyone finally returned home. Allie worked herself into hysterics welcoming everyone back, and burst into happy tears when she saw Bucky. "I thought you were going to be in jail foreeeevvveerrrr," she sobbed, throwing her arms around him.
Everyone exchanged a startled glance. "How did you know I was in jail, sweetheart?" Bucky asked gently.
Her words were muffled into his shoulder. "Because it was on the news and I was a kitty so Pep didn't see me and I watched de news and you were on it and Steeb was on it, and you killed Howid and Tony's mom when you were bad-spy, and then it made me sad so I left, but you were in jail and no one would say anything and Tony wouldn't talk 'bout it so I thought you were goin' be in jail forevers."
Bucky's grip on her tightened at her words. "You saw that, huh?" he asked. Recalling what had happened in 1991 had nearly killed him. Tony still hadn't been able to look at him since he came to escort Bucky and Steve away from the courthouse.
A half-hearted sniffle.
Tony spoke up from where he was hovering at the outskirts. "It's okay Allie," he said, coming forward to smooth a hand down her back. "I'm not mad. I mean, I'm mad, I'm furious, that I lost my parents because of HYDRA, but, it wasn't his fault, not really."
Bucky looked at him uncertainly.
Tony rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the ground. "I saw the, uh, video, of you remembering what happened. It wasn't pretty."
"I am sorry," Bucky said earnestly.
"Yeah. Let's just, not mention it again, okay?"
A silent nod.
Allie detached herself from Bucky's neck and leaned over to Tony. "You need a hug," she declared, and jumped into his arms, resting a soft cheek against his neck and hugging him tightly.
The billionaire hugged her gently and bowed his head, and no one dared to mention the suspicious sheen in his eyes.
Allie pressed a kiss to Tony's cheek. "Don't be sad too much," she consoled him. "You's got Pepper and me and de whole family."
He gave her a rough smile. "I know sweetheart."
A~A~A~A
After a week of recuperating, Sam made an announcement at team dinner. "I think, I'm going to head home tomorrow."
Thor frowned at him. "That was my line."
"Huh?"
Thor looked at the others. "I must return to Asgard tomorrow," he explained. "I have been away too long, and there is unrest in the other realms. I must fulfill my duties as prince. I'm sorry to leave when there is still so much tumult on this planet, but..."
"We understand," Steve said. "We'll be sorry to see you go."
Allie pouted in Thor's direction and then looked at Sam, a betrayed look in her eyes. "You can't go," she said firmly. "Who's gonna help Bucky and Steeb and Tony and Bwuce wif his night-scares?"
Sam cleared his throat. "Well, I was really only supposed to be here for two weeks, tops, and then all of this happened. I mean, I think I lost my apartment, and I gotta go see if I'm still even working at the VA, and-"
Allie jumped from her chair and ran over to Steve. "Can we keep him?" she asked in a stage-whisper, hanging from his arm. "Can we keep him as a 'venger?"
Steve smiled at her. "I think that's a good idea." He looked at the rest of the table. "What do you guys think?"
"All in favor say aye," Natasha said crisply.
There was a resounding 'aye.'
Steve grinned at Sam. "There you go. Job, apartment, and future, all sorted."
Sam shook his head. "Seriously? You guys want me? All I have is a pair of wings-"
"Which I'm going to make way better, by the way," Tony chimed in.
"You can't say no to that cute little face," Clint said coaxingly, pointing at Allie's devastating puppy-eyes.
Sam sighed. "I mean, it's not like I have anything better to do than save the world."
"That's the spirit," Thor said, slapping him (gently!) on the back. "I trust you to keep the skies clear for them, my friend."
"Sure," Sam said, nodding.
Allie grinned smugly into her macaroni and cheese.
When Thor left, he promised to bring her back a gift.
"No living alien pet things," Natasha told him firmly.
"I promise," Thor said. He walked away from the gathered Avengers, and looked up at the sky. A blinding light swallowed him up a moment later, and he was gone.
"Dat was sooo coool," Allie breathed in amazement. "S'like a transporter..." She spontaneously shifted into a lizard and had to be carried home in Natasha's jacket.
A~A~A~A